Tag: Drug Abuse

‘14.3m Nigerians engage in drug abuse’ – NAFDAC DG

Aminu Imam
NAFDAC DG

Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), Mojisola Adeyeye, has said that about 14.3 million Nigerians are victims of drug abuse. Adeyeye stated this at the inaugural ceremony of the agency’s youth programme, tagged: ‘Catch Them Young’, held at the Government Secondary School, Rumuokwuta, Port Harcourt, River State, on Wednesday. According to her, research findings show that one out of every four high-risk drug users has been arrested for drug-related offences, adding that that the arrest included: 73% for drug possession, 12% for theft,…

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NDLEA intercepts N16.1bn worth of opioids in Lagos

Aminu Imam
NDLEA intercepts

Arrests octogenarian, community leaders wives, son for drugs The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has intercepted a total of 25 million pills of Tapentadol, an opioid three times stronger than Tramadol, including 350,000 bottles of a codeine-based syrup at the Tin-Can Island port complex in Lagos. Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, said the seized Tapentadol has an estimated street value of N13.725bn, while the Codeine consignment is worth N2.45bn, bringing the total value of the seizures…

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Nigeria worlds highest cannabis consumer, with over 10.6 million users – NDLEA

Aminu Imam

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has disclosed that Nigeria was the highest consumer of cannabis in the world in 2019, with over 10.6 million users. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), who made the disclosure at the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) 40th Annual Olumide Memorial Lecture in Abuja, explained that the figure is more than the entire population of Portugal or the United Arab Emirates, (UAE). He further stated that worse still, the countrys drug use prevalence of 14.4 percent…

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Lagos residents consume over 100 bags of Indian hemp daily Report

Aminu Imam

Records of drug offences in Nigerian courts show how deep drug abuse/trafficking has eaten into the fabric of society. According to counsel to NDLEA, Lagos State Command, Jeremiah Aernan, the rate of hard drug abuse by youths has become alarming. Aernan also blames the trend on peer group influence which, he believes, pushes some youths into cult activities, with a resultant effect of illicit drug use. According to him, while some youths go into drug abuse with a view to having an experience, due to their inquisitiveness, others become drug…

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‘Declare State Of Emergency on drug abuse’ House of Reps. urges FG

Aminu Imam

The House of Representatives yesterday called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on drug abuse in Nigeria. This followed a ‘Motion of urgent public importance’, brought by Hon. Henry Nwauba, calling for urgent action to be taken to arrest the ugly development amongst youths and adults who are into drug abuse. Moving the motion, the lawmaker said, These addictive drugs come by different names as tramadol, codeine syrup, Lacatomtom and so forth, and the endpoint according to many is that drug abuse is fast destroying the…

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’15 million Nigerians consume illicit drugs’ NDLEA Chairman, Marwa alleges

Aminu Imam

The Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig-Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), has said that 15 million Nigerians indulge in the consumption of illicit drugs. Marwa disclosed this during an interactive session with local government council Chairmen in Plateau on Wednesday, in Jos. According to him, As I speak to you, 15 million Nigerians use illicit drugs; one out of seven Nigerians take hard substances”. He decried the surge in the distribution and consumption of illicit substances, adding that one out of seven Nigerians indulged in…

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Medical expert worries over rising drug abuse among youths

Aminu Imam

A medical doctor with Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Benin City, in Edo State, Obumneme Chinweuba, has expressed concern over the alarming rate of substance abuse among young persons and its ability to trigger mental illness. Chiweuba, who is the President, Association of Resident Doctors, Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Benin chapter, disclosed to newsmen in Benin City, said that about 60 to 70% of daily mental illness cases presented to the hospital are connected with substance abuse, describing it as“bad, because many of these substances are dangerous to mental and physical health”. The medical…

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‘War against illicit drugs more dangerous than insurgency, banditry’ Buhari

Aminu Imam

…10.6m Nigerians actively abusing cannabis – Marwa President Muhammadu Buhari has noted that the war against illicit drugs is more dangerous than the war against insurgency, banditry and kidnapping ravaging parts of the country and has therefore called for concerted effort to deal with the menace. He made the declaration Saturday at the presidential villa, Abuja while launching the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), a programme initiated by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in commemoration of the United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking…

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Omo-Agege seeks more funding for NDLEA to tackle drug abuse

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (APC- Delta) has called for an increase in the funding of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to tackle drug abuse in Nigeria.Omo-Agege, who decried the growing trend of drug abuse among the youth, also called forestablishment of more rehabilitation centres across the country.Yomi Odunuga, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Deputy President of the Senate, in a statement on Wednesday, said Omo-Agege made the call in Abuja when he hosted two associations.The associations according to Odunuga…

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10.9% of Kaduna residents involved in drug abuse Bureau

Ishaku Yohanna

Director General, Kaduna State Bureau for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (KADBUSA), Dr Joseph Maigari, has lamented that, 10.9 percent of Kaduna residents are involved in drug and abuse of other related substances. The Director- General disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the activities of the Bureau. Dr. Maigari said that, a survey conducted recently in 2020 across the country indicated that in 23 Local Government Areas of Kaduna State, 11 out of 100 residents are engaged in substance abuse.  He however said that, the Bureau is working with various…

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